Maris shot through the air, wind spiraling around his body.
An Octohead lunged toward him.
Maris twisted sideways.
“Missed me.” The creature barely had time to react.
Maris grabbed it, spun around, and hurled it high above his head before smashing it into the dirt and sending it deep into the dense forest.
“One down.” “Show-off,” Liberia muttered.
She slammed both palms into the earth.
“Level 1 — Crust!” The ground cracked.
A massive boulder erupted from beneath her and launched toward the horde.
BOOM!
Several Octoheads were knocked aside.
Liberia brushed her hands together.
“See?
That’s how you do it.” Maris glanced at her.
“You missed three.” Her eye twitched.
“I was aiming for those three.” “Of course.” “You don’t believe me?” “No.” “Ugly!” Sophria stepped between them before the argument could continue.
“Guys…” Vines suddenly burst from underground.
They wrapped around several Octoheads and pulled them to the ground.
Sophria blinked.
“I think we have more important things to worry about.” Maris nodded.
“She’s right.” Liberia crossed her arms.
“Fine.” She looked toward the cave.
“Let’s deal with that.” But the cave continued vomiting out more horrors.
One after another.
The students began backing away.
“How many are there?!” “I stopped counting!” “I never started!” Maris’s expression hardened.
“We have to close the cave!” He raised his hand.
Wind began swirling violently around his body.
“We can’t keep fighting them forever.” “Don’t give me orders, ugly,” Liberia snapped.
Maris stared at her.
“We’re literally being attacked.” “I know.” “Then why are you arguing?” “Because you’re annoying.” Melio stepped forward.
“Let’s close it.” Liberia’s entire expression changed.
The irritation disappeared instantly.
Her eyes softened.
“Yes…” She smiled.
“Let’s do it, dear Melio.” Maris stared at her.
Then sighed.
“Did I speak in another language?
Just do it already.” Liberia ignored him.
“Melio, you heard him.” Melio looked at her.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” She smiled.
“I know.” Maris rubbed his forehead.
These two are going to give me a headache.
They moved together.
Liberia slammed boulders into the cave’s mouth.
Melio followed, flames pouring from his hands.
The heat melted the edges of the rocks together, creating a hardened seal.
Sophria raised her hands.
“Level 1 — Sprout.” Thick vines burst from the ground.
They wrapped around the boulders, tightening like ropes.
The entrance was sealed.
For the first time, the flow of Octoheads stopped.
Everyone stared.
A student breathed out.
“We actually did it.” Another smiled.
“That’s it, right?” Foshi sat perched on a branch above them.
His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield.
“Good idea.” The students looked up.
Foshi nodded toward the sealed cave.
“Now…
kill the ones outside.” The students’ smiles disappeared.
“…Oh.” Maris sighed.
“Of course.” Melio stepped forward.
“Don’t let them regroup.” He raised his fist.
“Take them down.” Maris’s wind exploded outward.
A massive current swept through the forest, throwing groups of Octoheads into trees and scattering them across the battlefield.
A steel-skinned boy charged forward.
“Move!” His body hardened.
He slammed into a creature and sent it crashing into the ground.
“HA!” Another student shouted, “Nice!” The boy grinned.
“Did you see that?” “Yes!” “Good!” “Can you do it again?” “…Probably.” Despite the chaos, the students were slowly adapting.
They were learning.
Fighting together.
But Melio wasn’t smiling.
His breathing became heavier.
He looked around.
Too many creatures.
Too many screams.
Too much chaos.
His fists trembled.
His vision blurred.
Not again.
He heard something.
A distant roar.
His body froze.
The battlefield disappeared.
— Flashback — The Fire Panther Years ago.
A young Melio sat in the backseat of a car, his face pressed against the window.
“Dad…” His father glanced at him through the mirror.
“Yes, son?” “Are we really going to the beach today?” His father smiled.
“Of course.” Melio’s eyes lit up.
His mother laughed from the passenger seat.
“We’ll play your favorite game when we get there.” “Really?” Melio practically jumped in his seat.
“Thank you!” His father laughed.
“Stay seated.” “I am seated!” “You’re practically on the roof.” Melio giggled.
For a few minutes, everything was perfect.
Then— ROAR!
The entire car shook.
Melio’s smile vanished.
“What was that?” His father looked upward.
His expression changed.
A massive Fire Panther stood on the roof.
Flames surrounded its body.
“Everyone stay calm.” His mother turned around.
“Melio, don’t move.” The creature struck.
The car shook violently.
Glass shattered.
Melio covered his head.
“Mom!” “Melio!” His parents tried to protect him.
Then everything became noise.
Flames.
Screams.
And then— Silence.
Melio opened his eyes.
The world was strangely quiet.
“Mom?” No answer.
“Dad?” Nothing.
He stumbled out of the wreckage, confused and frightened.
His memories came in fragments.
His mother’s smile.
His father’s voice.
The promise of the beach.
Then nothing.
The Fire Panther turned toward him.
Melio froze.
He couldn’t move.
He closed his eyes.
I’m going to die.
But instead of attacking, the creature approached.
It looked at him.
Then unexpectedly nudged him away from the battlefield.
The beast carried the unconscious boy toward the edge of the city.
When people eventually found him, Melio was alone.
The only survivor.
— Present — The Awakening Melio’s eyes widened.
The forest returned.
The Octoheads.
The students.
The screams.
His fists trembled.
No.
He looked at the students around him.
Some were scared.
Some were injured.
Some were calling for their friends.
Melio clenched his fists.
I won’t let that nightmare happen again.
His breathing steadied.
I won’t let anyone else lose their family like I did.
His flames began growing.
Maris looked toward him.
“Melio?” Melio didn’t answer.
Liberia stared.
“What’s happening?” Sophria’s eyes widened.
“His aura…” Foshi suddenly stood up on the branch.
His expression became serious.
“Everyone, move away from him.” The students hesitated.
“Why?” “NOW.” They immediately scattered.
Melio’s flames spiraled around his body.
His memories flashed through his mind.
His father.
His mother.
The car.
The Fire Panther.
The fear.
The helplessness.
Then his eyes opened.
The fear was still there.
But something had changed.
“I won’t…” His voice trembled.
Then became stronger.
“…run anymore.” His aura exploded.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!” A massive wave of heat swept through the forest.
The ground beneath him began to glow.
Foshi’s eyes widened.
“His trauma…” The flames spiraled higher.
“He’s breaking through.” Molten energy erupted around Melio like enormous wings.
Foshi stared.
“Level 2 Fire…” He paused.
“Lava.” The students stared upward.
“He’s flying!” “That’s Level 2?!” “I can’t even control Level 1!” Liberia smiled.
“That’s my Melio.” Maris looked at her.
“Your Melio?” She glanced at him.
“Problem?” “Several.” Melio raised his hand.
His eyes burned with determination.
“Enough bullshit.” The molten energy expanded.
“Time to burn you all.” He thrust his hand forward.
A tidal wave of molten fire erupted across the battlefield.
The Octoheads were overwhelmed instantly.
Sophria reacted quickly.
“Level 1 — Sprout!” Massive vines erupted around the students, forming a protective dome.
The wave of heat passed over them.
Everyone shielded their faces.
One student screamed, “IT’S TOO HOT!” Another shouted, “I CAN FEEL MY HAIR COOKING!” “Stop worrying about your hair!” “I LIKE MY HAIR!” Outside the dome, the battlefield disappeared beneath fire.
Then silence.
The smoke slowly cleared.
The forest floor was blackened.
The remaining Octoheads were gone.
Melio descended slowly.
His flames faded.
He landed on one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Maris walked toward him.
“Melio.” Melio looked up.
“Don’t.” Maris stopped.
Melio slowly stood.
“I’m fine.” Maris stared at him.
“You don’t look fine.” “I said I’m fine.” Liberia approached.
“Melio…” He looked toward her.
She smiled.
“You were amazing.” Melio looked away.
“…I know.” Maris raised an eyebrow.
“Wow.” Melio glanced at him.
“What?” “Nothing.
I just didn’t know you could compliment yourself.” “I didn’t.” “Sure.” For a moment, the three stood silently.
Then— RUMBLE.
Everyone froze.
The sealed cave began shaking.
The boulders trembled.
Sophria’s smile vanished.
“That’s…” Another rumble.
CRACK.
A crack appeared across the stone seal.
Foshi’s expression darkened.
“That was impressive, Melio.” He looked toward the cave.
“But…” The entire entrance shook.
“…the real threat hasn’t even begun.” The boulders exploded outward.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust swallowed the forest.
The students screamed and stumbled backward.
Maris raised his arm to shield his face.
Melio’s flames reignited.
Liberia summoned another boulder.
Sophria’s vines rose from the ground.
Foshi narrowed his eyes.
From within the cave came a sound unlike anything they had heard before.
A deep growl.
Then another.
Something enormous moved in the darkness.
Foshi’s voice became cold.
“Let’s see…” His eyes remained fixed on the cave.
“…who survives this next test.” Something began crawling out.
And whatever it was— It was far larger than an Octohead.